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Sunday, June 12, 2016

You'll love the way Medieval Monday's Conflict theme wraps up this week with my friend Mary Morgan's DRAGON KNIGHT’S SHIELD. Mary sends us out in high style in this excerpt which weaves a tempting conflict between Angus and Deirdre. But this might be a conflict neither wants to win.

Excerpt:

“Never have I
seen a woman command men as she does,” commented Robert coming alongside him.

Angus kept silent. He knew his
friend had set his sight on the woman as well. He had flirted with her outright
at the table last evening, stirring the outrage of Hugh. The man dared to tempt
fate to the edge of his life, and Angus wanted to slice out Robert’s tongue with
a blade.

Rubbing his hands together to ward
off the chill, Robert removed his cloak. “I believe ’tis my turn at a lesson or
two.”

Without thought, Angus blocked his
progress with an outstretched hand. “Nae. My turn.”

The man raised an eyebrow in amused
contempt and took a step back.

As Angus stepped into the clearing,
he saw Deirdre’s eyes go wide in surprise. As he gave the others a passing
glance, they understood his meaning and retreated to the trees. Removing his
cloak, he faced her.

“There is nothing I can teach you,
Angus. I’ve seen you fight.” She rubbed her hands down the sides of her gown,
and he took this as a nervous gesture.

His steps slowed as he circled her,
making her turn as he did. “Ye show the others. Why not me?”

“Because there are some
techniques…umm ways…to improve…and they asked, since they believe me…”

“Ye are rambling. Not good for a hunter.”

“I’m not playing this game, MacKay,”
she hissed.

“This is no game we play, Flanagan.
There is a real danger that cannae be fought with strength alone.”

“Then you’re the fool if you don’t
think I understand. The Fianna have told me about the magic of this evil druid.
But what they haven’t told me is why he wants to claim the relics of the Dragon
Knights.”

Angus clenched his fists. They had
no right discussing his past with her.

“Does that upset you?”

He continued his spiral movement
around her. “Why would it?”

“Because it shows in your eyes. They
go from light brown to blazing amber.”

His smile became predatory. “Ye are
a keen witness.”

“Tell me about your relic, Angus?”

Chuckling softly, he kept silent.
Her gown twisted as her steps faltered, and he realized she had not mastered
moving in the clothing.

She stomped her foot in anger. “Stop
moving!”

In one swift move, he had her hands
behind her back with his face mere inches from the lips he wanted. “Ye have now
become my prey.” He could feel the rise and fall of her breasts with
every breath she took, and he fought to control his body. By the gods how he wanted
her. She smelled of the woods, wild and untamed.

She blinked and he found desire
staring back at him. Twisting her head away from his, she spat out, “Let me
go.”

If the others were not around, Angus
feared he would have claimed her right there in the snow. He shook his head of
the blinding lust and released her. “Ye are correct, Deirdre. There is naught ye
can teach me.” Turning slowly, he started to walk away when he felt the blade
at his back.

“The first lesson, Angus, in any
battle is never to turn your back on the enemy. You have forgotten the basics
in defense.”

He held his arms out wide. “Then
strike for the kill, Deirdre and pray ye have the strength to aim true.”

She punched him hard in his lower
back, causing him to stumble a few feet. “Trust me, I have the strength.” Her
words sent a chill down his spine, and the beast became unleashed.

As Angus whirled around, he reached
for the arm that held the blade. Her gown twisted and she slipped, bringing
them both to the ground. Wasting no time being so close to her heated body, he
stood. Shoving a hand through his hair, he then pointed to her bunched up gown.
“And the first lesson ye should master is to fight in your clothes. They will
be your undoing.” Hissing out several curses, he stormed off to the trees, whistling
for Artair.

As he passed one of the pines, a blade
flew past his head and landed with a loud thump into the wood. The fire danced
off his fingertips, but he made no move to turn around. “Ye missed.”

Blurb:

Angus MacKay, leader of the Dragon Knights, failed his
brothers and his clan upon the death of his sister. Now he must fight the
darkness of despair tempting his soul. Back on Scottish soil, he comes face to
face with Deirdre who can wield a sword as mightily as his warriors, and he
takes her captive. Yet, with each passing day, the fire dragon inside him roars
to claim the one woman fate has destined for him.

Famed mystery writer, Deirdre Flanagan, is
unprepared for the next chapter in her life. On a vacation to Scotland, she
steps through the mists and enters into a skirmish alongside a Highlander.
However, the fight has only begun, and now she must battle Angus as well as
evil in order to claim the love of this Dragon Knight.

Will their love be powerful enough to shield
them from danger, or burn them to ashes?

Thanks so much, Barb! Overjoyed to hear you've enjoyed the Dragon Knights! I've just finished galleys for the final book, so it's bittersweet. Yet, I'm sure the Dragon Knights will weave their way into other stories.

Yes, Tena! I have a Christmas story coming out this holiday based on one of the friends of the Dragon Knights. Then, a spin-off with the Fenian (Fae) Warriors--four stories. They play a major part in the fifth book due out this summer.